Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One week ago I picked up a 4 1/2 inch long bearded baby (now called BeeDee by my 2 year old son)

So far I am keeping him in a well setup 55 gallon tank (Powersun 160 watt bulb w/UVB, 115-120f basking spot and 85-90f cool corner)and have an under tank heat pad by Zoomed as well.

I have gone to the method mentioned here for feeding him in a separate plastic container that he can catch crickets easily in.. I place him in there 3 times a day 6:30am 2:30pm and 7:00pm .. and it's Lights out at 8:30pm..

I have also tried a few days of adding/throwing in a half dozen crickets to the whole tank for when noone is home and let him try to catch them .. but I always pull these crickets out at night and he might of eaten 1 or 2 at the most in this manner.

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I have looked through here daily for bearded specific advise and it's been great.. But after a week of observation I have a few questions:

1. Beedee prefers to eat in the morning (3-4 crickets) and has only eaten in the afternoon and evening half the time, What can I do to help him to eat more often??

2. He also loves to eat the calcium powder from his cricket feeding tank when dusted crickets are offered. Is this unusual to eat the powder ?? I think it's a godsend.

3. After 1 week of ownership he is still skitish and on edge when handling him. He actually shows some rapid breathing when I pick him up but stops when he is alone in the tank .. Is this rapid breathing a normal "stress" symptom for him ?? He also gets defensive lately on picking him up..

4. I bought a vitamin spray by Fluker for him.. The reptile shop's owner said to spray him directly on the head with it.. Is there any issues with this since I spray it in his eyes when spraying his head ???

Thanks

-Tigermist
1 Bearded Baby (4wks??)
3 Mali Uro's (1-3yrs)
1 Sulcatta (3yrs)

1. Beedee prefers to eat in the morning (3-4 crickets) and has only eaten in the afternoon and evening half the time, What can I do to help him to eat more often??

** Are these correct size crickets? No larger then the space between his eyes..1/4"?

2. He also loves to eat the calcium powder from his cricket feeding tank when dusted crickets are offered. Is this unusual to eat the powder ?? I think it's a godsend.

**Not really unusual. I occasionally scrape cuttlebone on rocks in my BD's tanks, they like it too.

3. After 1 week of ownership he is still skitish and on edge when handling him. He actually shows some rapid breathing when I pick him up but stops when he is alone in the tank .. Is this rapid breathing a normal "stress" symptom for him ?? He also gets defensive lately on picking him up..

**It's normal for babies to be skittish. Keep handling him, he'll mellow. Breathing is normal when afraid.

4. I bought a vitamin spray by Fluker for him.. The reptile shop's owner said to spray him directly on the head with it.. Is there any issues with this since I spray it in his eyes when spraying his head ???

**Firstly, I wouldn't use anything produced by Flukers, I Boycott everything. Unless your beardie is licking his head after spraying, it does him no good. I've only heard of it being sprayed on greens. I use Herptivite powder Vitamins by RepCal.

During the day, you can put dusted crickets in a slick sided bowl/ashtray. Most crickets don't try to jump out. This will contain them for your beardie and he won't have to try to hunt them down.
A 55 gallon is pretty cavernous for a baby beardie.
I would lower your basking temp to no more then 110, 120 is too hot..
You can do this by raising the lamp or lowering the basking site.
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TheClassyLizard

Thanks for the info chrissy.

Yes, He's eating the 1/4 inch crickets.. (nothing bigger than between his eyes..)

The Higher temp of 120 has been all over this site as the max temp for babies .. I've been leary of this as well and will turn it down a bit.. (I got a homemade dimmer switch control box to "dial" in the temp with and works great)

It's nice to know the attitude of the lil guy is normal and expected for a baby.. I can't wait till I've got him eating out of my hands..

tigermist

Yeah, I've seen 120 posted also..(sigh)
But I'm not in to cooked/dehydrated babies.
I said 110, because I feel that should be the max.
Mine are kept at 100-105.

Actually, if you think about it, and I have....
The sun doesn't change temps for babies in the wild. And it would be difficult for them to find a basking spot of 120.
That's my opinin and I'n stickin to it..
Any rebuttles can be directed to CheriS *snicker*
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TheClassyLizard

I do know that my son's Mali's are truly a bunch of 120 degree heat soakin freaks.. LOL And we saw the activity difference between 100 degree temps and 120 temps right away...

So I felt that maybe the (baby) bearded's loved the heat in a similar way the Mali's do.. ??

Breathing is normal when afraid. Does that mean not breathing is okay and they are not afraid? ... runs and ducks.. hehe sorry, I could not resist.

I agree with Christy too, 120 is way too hot for any period of time, given the choice of temps, we have found ours perfer 95-100 and the babies a bit higher around 105

Hehehe...OK You got me..lol
I guess I should have not tried to cut corners. Correction: "The" breathing is normal when afraid.

Geez, I finally rid Ozzy of his dots and now this!!..lol
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TheClassyLizard

its okay ;p Have you seen the movie "holes" and the painted dragons? When I was it this week I was thinking of you and Ozzie!

Yes, I've seen it..and
TOUCHE'..lol
You wrote " When I was it this week"
Playing tag?...lol
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TheClassyLizard

long it would take you to pounce!

I'll be lurking for you

n/p
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TheClassyLizard

1. Beedee prefers to eat in the morning (3-4 crickets) and has only eaten in the afternoon and evening half the time, What can I do to help him to eat more often?? Try adding small salads of chopped greens and finely chopped veggies, he is still VERY young and will only eat a few crickets at a time, which is why we offer them more often.

2. He also loves to eat the calcium powder from his cricket feeding tank when dusted crickets are offered. Is this unusual to eat the powder ?? I think it's a godsend. white seems to intrigue them and many will pick at the calcium

3. After 1 week of ownership he is still skitish and on edge when handling him. He actually shows some rapid breathing when I pick him up but stops when he is alone in the tank .. Is this rapid breathing a normal "stress" symptom for him ?? He also gets defensive lately on picking him up.yes, its stressing him, again, he is very young, has been taken from his sibling which was his security and he does not know what your plan is for him, your a predator as far as he is concerned at this point and it will take time to get his trust. Just give him the time to adjust and know that you are a source of good things, not scary things. The best time to try contact with him is late evening when he is tired.

4. I bought a vitamin spray by Fluker for him.. The reptile shop's owner said to spray him directly on the head with it.. Is there any issues with this since I spray it in his eyes when spraying his head ??? yeah, it says Fluker on the label, that is an issue........ he has MV lights and dusting, the vit. spray is a waste, just add dustings of minerall or other vitamins once a week. You can also mist him with warm water, they usually enjoy this, I imagine that vit spray from room temp hitting him in his warm tank is kind of a shock and he wonders about it, it will not build his confidence in you.

Some babies really learn to enjoy soaking and swimming, it serves so many useful purposes and it is a time they can learn to trust and enjoy you. Here is a URL below the picture to getting them use to bathing, that is not so scary and will be a great aid in the future when they shed, need hydration and keeping them clean.... also a great exercise when they learn to swim, we have some that spend most the day in the warm weather in their pools and love it

Bathing and making it fun

Cheri,

Nice Pics .. I looked at the link and saw your bath time photo's .. I have been doing the identical thing for my older reptiles in the family for years.. My Sulcatta Tortoise actually gets a bath often and has his own toothbrush as well.. He's a dirty boy usually and needs a good scrubbin at the bath time.. I've given the baby bearded 2 bath's as well in our bathroom sink with me holding him the whole time.. (he did kinda enjoy it )

I've actually got a tray of fresh greens and more in the baby's tank and have seen very little activity from him on eating them until this morning where I thought, out of the corner of my eye I saw him eating some summer squash .. The greens are everywhere in our house for the other reptiles (my Sulcatta and my son has 3 Mali's).

I have just been concentrating and worried on the cricket feeding for the baby bearded since he's so young and suppose to consumer 80% crickets and 20% greens from what I've read so far.. But I will introduce him to more and more veggies as time goes on.

-Tigermist

will usually not get a lot of crickets til they are longer and weight more, ours under 5 inches will eat about what he is, the amount they eat seems to realy change once they are a bit bigger.

One thing that we have found that does stimutale their appetite is brighter lights, natural sun and also a product called Acidophiliz made by Pet Authority and found in some Pet Stores. It has active good bacteria in it for their tummies and seems to get the digestion going when they are sluggish

he wont eat in the morning because he is not at the right temp wait till he warms up then he will eat away

Zack Venokur

greens the minute they are placed in their tank, a few will warm up for 10-20 minutes then attack them. Its the light intensity that we think stimulates their appetite...... or maybe its just growing babies!